"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT GOING TO WORK EACH DAY"
1st Timothy 6:1 “Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed.”
1st Timothy 6:2 “And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.”
(Taken from today's reading in the One Year Bible 10/21/14)
Some background, application, questions and a prayer:
This letter written by Pastor Paul to Pastor Timothy included teaching about many things in the church. How we are to live day by day, treat each other, what to watch out for, and what to hope in. These verses have to do with simply going to work, and how to treat those who are over us on the job.
1. We ought to treat our masters with all honor.
1st Timothy 6:1 “Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed.”
In the early church, there were many, many slaves, and many of them were followers of Jesus Christ. God was telling the christian slaves how to treat their masters. They were to be respectful to them.
If not, there was the danger of Christianity being ill spoken of.
So, you can be a good witness of the Lord at work by how you treat your boss.
Simply be respectful, and you will avoid giving opportunity for unbelieving bosses to blaspheme or speak ill of the Lord.
2. The reason for treating our masters with all honor is so that God and His Word will not be ill spoken of.
1st Timothy 6:1 “Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed.”
Here's how this reads in the NLT:
1st Timothy 6:1 “Christians who are slaves should give their masters full respect so that the name of God and his teaching will not be shamed.”
Give your masters full respect, and this will keep the name of God from being shamed.
People will blame God based on how His followers act.
Or, to put it another way, people will not be able to blame God if God's followers act in a Godly way.
In this case, it's simple. Be respectful to your employer.
3. If you happen to have a boss that is a Christian, here's what to do.
1st Timothy 6:2 “And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.”
It seems that Christians sometimes think that if their boss is a christian, then their boss ought to treat them with favoritism, and cut them some slack, etc.
But not so.
Here's what's said.
Do not despise your boss if he is a christian.
This was originally written to slaves who had owners that were also christians.
Christian slaves owned by Christian masters.
Do not despise them, but rather serve them.
God has blessed them and saved them.
They are loved by God.
Again here's how this verse reads in the New Living Translation:
1st Timothy 6:2 “If your master is a Christian, that is no excuse for being disrespectful. You should work all the harder because you are helping another believer by your efforts. Teach these truths, Timothy, and encourage everyone to obey them.”
Questions:
1. Do you have a job you go to everyday?
2. Who is your direct supervisor?
3. Is your boss a believer or an unbeliever?
4. Do you realize what an opportunity you have each day to be a good witness for Christ?
5. Simply be respectful, this will mean much to keeping accusations down about God and bringing glory to His name.
A Prayer:
Father, first of all, thank You for a job. You have provided the work we have. May we honor You by honoring those who are over us on our jobs. You desire to be glorified in and through our lives, and by our simply being respectful we can bring glory to Your name.
Help us, Lord, to follow Your Word and Your Ways day by day. In the name of Your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia.
